Opposition parties hint at alliance
Political parties that do not have parliamentarians have hinted at formulating an electoral alliance ahead of the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
The parties, being chaired by George Mnesa of Malawi Forum for Unity and Development, signaled that this could be their next move during an interface meeting with quasi-religious body Public Affairs Committee (Pac), a meeting that incumbent People’s Party (PP) President Joyce Banda attended.
Mnesa said leaders of the political parties have been meeting to field a presidential candidate who would represent them in the upcoming elections.
“We have been discussing since 2016 and we have a made a point to field one president rather than having a number of us contesting,” he said.
Banda declined to give the media interviews amid speculations that the political parties that have no legislators would rally behind her as their torchbearer in the general election.
During the meeting with Pac, the politicians asked Pac if there were interventions in the offing to minimise occurrence of violence, which is already brewing up among members of major political parties.
“Violence is already brewing up among the supporters of major political parties. What has Pac planned to minimise the occurrence of this in the coming crucial election?” Mnesa queried.
Mnesa quoted a recent Afrobarometer report which indicates that only one third of Malawians trust Malawi Electoral Commission, asking Pac if it has engaged the electoral body to have the trust restored.
“We ask these questions because the 2019 elections may bring some challenges which, inevitably, may require your intervention. The responses will help us plan on how best we may deal with the issue of joining hands to support or coming up with a united approach in terms of featuring candidates,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pac Chairperson, Felix Chingota, has said the committee has planned three governance meetings to examine strategies and contents of the peace accord. He also said they are planning to have national prayers focusing on peace.
Others who attended the meeting include Cassim Chilumpha of Assembly for Development and Democracy, Mark Katsonga of People’s Progressive Movement, United Transformation Party’s Newton Kambala, senior officials from People’s Transformation Party, Alliance for Democracy, among others.
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